How Do CFCs Damage the Ozone Layer?
Impact of CFCs The ozone layer is found from 10 to 20 miles above the earth’s surface. It is composed of oxygen atoms and has a blue tint. As sun rays pelt the earth, the ozone layer absorbs part of the radiation and prohibits it from hitting the earth’s surface. This protects earth’s inhabitants from harmful sun damage. CFCs are man-made chemicals that have been in production for more than a half century. These chlorine containing substances are found in refrigerant, aerosols, and solvents. Due to their long lifetimes and the fact that they do not wash away in rain, it is possible for CFCs to rise up into the ozone layer above the earth, where they eventually break down due to exposure to ultraviolet radiation. As they decompose, they release chlorine and bromine into the ozone layer. These two chemicals are responsible for damaging and depleting the ozone layer. For every one chlorine atom that is released into the ozone layer, 100,000 ozone molecules are destroyed. Thus, the CFCs ca
